Australia

Kenneth Ely (b.1926) had a first career as a jockey, apprenticed at the age of 15

Murray Rose (1939-2012) became the youngest Olympian to win three gold medals during one Games, aged just 17 in 1956.

In collecting terms it is not surprising that a country such as Australia should have a tradition of interest in English ceramics – factories such as Royal Doulton and Moorcroft have a noticeable following.

One of the leading buckles collections in the world, many bought at Portobello Market in London in its 1970s heyday, is coming to auction in Australia.

A vast collection of Royal Worcester porcelain put together by an Australian couple during frequent trips to UK dealers and auction houses is up for sale next month.

Davidson Auctions in Annadale, New South Wales, Australia, is dispersing the contents of the Leuralla Toy and Railway Museum.

The original watercolour draught for Sydney Harbour Bridge that featured on the front page of ATG No 2538 was bought by the Australian National Maritime Museum, it has been revealed.

An oil on panel of a Spanish water carrier with his donkey in Granada by the Australian Impressionist Tom Roberts (1856-1931) accompanied by the artist’s pen and ink sketch for the work is to be offered in the sale at Smith & Singer in Sydney on April 12.

On December 2 Australian auction firm Shapiro will be offering the collection of Spode blue and white earthenwares assembled over the past 25 years by Russell Brooks. The majority were purchased in first 15 years mainly in England but also in Australia.

A couple of surprise results emerged in a sale held in Armadale, Victoria, by Australian Book Auctions (19.8% buyer’s premium).

This first edition of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale will be offered for sale by Scammell Auctions in Adelaide on October 11.

A very early coloured litho view of Melbourne formed part of an Australiana sale held by dealer and auctioneer Peter Arnold (18% buyer’s premium).

An important work by Modern Australian artist Russell Drysdale (1912-81) equalled his auction record when it sold at Deutscher and Hackett (25% buyer’s premium).

For those in the southern hemisphere, Christmas means summer, sun, flowers and exotic wildlife. In this year’s Australian Antique and Art Dealers Association (AAADA) Christmas Catalogue, dealer Josef Lebovic offers a group of 11 Antipodean Christmas cards from c.1883.

Twenty lots from a private Sydney collection will open the sale devoted to Chinese Paintings to be held by Bonhams on December 2 in Sydney.

The highlight of Bonhams Australia’s (27.5/25% buyer’s premium) latest Jewels sale was this agate intaglio seal from the collection of Brisbane Catholic priest Father Peter Grice (1943-2019).

One of the highlights of Leonard Joel’s jewellery auction in Sydney on August 26 is this Art Deco platinum and diamond bracelet dated to c.1930 fashioned as an articulated line of geometric links of carré, baguette and circular cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 33cts.

The first sale held by Bonhams Australia (22% buyer’s premium) behind closed doors in Sydney was devoted to Asian art,